“Yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“Skincare." She lights up in a way that makes me stop what I’m doing just to watch her. “I mean, not just using it, I’ve been working on creating my own line. Products that areclean, effective, and make people feel good in their own skin.”
“That’s badass.” I blink, impressed.
“Thanks.” She laughs. “It started a few years ago. I was in school, learning all this fascinating stuff about ingredients, what works, what doesn’t, and I started making videos explaining it. Just simple stuff, like breaking down labels or comparing products. I didn’t think anyone would care, but people did. The followers grew, and eventually I started getting paid to make content.”
“So you’re famous?” I smirk.
“No!” She groans, laughing. “Not even close. I’m just a content creator. That’s it.”
“Uh-huh.” I grin as I flip the tostones. “Your brother mentioned it once and said you had a ton of followers. I don’t know much about social media, but that sounds kind of famous to me.”
“He exaggerates.” She shakes her head, still smiling. “But it’s been a fun ride. I love it, but that’s not my end goal. My dream is to launch my own brand. Something real. Something that educates and helps people feel confident.”
“That’s solid,” I say, genuinely impressed. “You’ve got a plan?”
“I do. Our skin is our largest organ, and most people don’t even think twice about what they’re putting on it. I just want to make skincare less confusing. Less intimidating. And maybe a little fun.”
“Mission accomplished,” I say, pointing at the tostones. “You’re already making this fun.”
She laughs again, and it’s the kind of sound I wouldn’t mind hearing a lot more of. “Good. Because if I’m going to be your fake fiancée, I better be entertaining.”
“Oh, you are,” I say, unable to keep the smile off my face. “And then some.”
“So, tell me about this deal that you guys are working on?” Eva asks, changing the subject as she leans casually against the counter, staring at me while I keep working with the tostones.
“Noah and I have put everything into it,” I say, wiping my hands on a kitchen towel. “This deal with McNeal? It’s everything. If we land it, we can expand; bigger crews, better contracts, real growth. But if we screw it up…?”
Her expression softens, and her voice is steady and sure when she says, “You won’t. You’re good at what you do.”
I look down for a second, giving myself a moment before nodding. “Still, I need everything to go smoothly. And that includes our fake engagement. We’ve got to be believable.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m very convincing.” She tilts her head, giving me a teasing smile. “Extremely talented fake fiancée. Award-winning, even.”
“Yeah?” I laugh. “What’s your rate?”
“I accept payment in tostones.”
I grab one, still sizzling and golden, and hand it to her. “You drive a hard bargain.”
Taking a bite, she groans like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted, and fans herself. “Oh my God. Okay, fine. You win. I’m yours.”
I chuckle, but there’s a strange flutter in my chest that I pretend not to notice. “Don’t say things like that, Ross. I might take you seriously.”
“Just keep the tostones coming, and we’ll talk.” She winks at me over her shoulder.
I let myself enjoy the moment before circling back to the reason she’s here. “But seriously... the McNeal deal? It’s abig one. He’s this self-made businessman from Florida, sharp guy. He bought a huge piece of land near Honey Springs and wants to develop a ski resort. Full thing. Lodges, restaurants, maybe even a small shopping area. We’re talking millions in contracts.”
Eva’s eyes widen a little. “Wow. That’s huge.”
“Yeah. And he’s looking for a local crew he can trust to handle the entire construction. Not just one building, the whole resort. Infrastructure, site planning, design builds… everything. If we land it, we go from a small-town crew to a regional powerhouse.”
“No pressure or anything,” she says with a small smirk.
“Exactly.” I smile tightly. “That’s why this whole fake engagement thing needs to feel real. He’s a family guy, values trust, roots, all that. He wants to work with people who represent stability. If I show up looking like a man building a future with a fiancée by my side, it’ll help.”
She nods slowly, more serious now. “Okay. Got it. We’ll sell it.”
